The funny thing about dishwashers ...

So I'm looking for an 18" wide dishwasher. Fortunately and unfortunately, there are very few choices - and even fewer when you want trim panels.

There are 2 GE models (Spacemaker and Profile), a Bosch, a couple Mieles, and a Smeg. They range from about $650 (for the GE Spacemaker - the one with a dial rather than hidden digital controls) to a jaw-dropping $1300 for a Miele.

Which one gets the best reviews? The GE Spacemaker - the cheapest one - consistently! The others have more features, and deeper tubs; they do fancy things like "delay start" and "quick wash" for parties; their trim panels totally conceal the controls; they're quieter; etc.. But when it comes down to actually getting the dishes 1) to fit, 2) clean, and 3) dry, everybody loves the GE Spacemaker best.

Which begs the question, who's everybody? When you read restaurant or hotel or book reviews online, you can be fairly sure that the reviewer has eaten more than one meal, stayed in more than hotel, and read more than one book in the last year or so. But once you buy a good dishwasher, you have it for a good long while; you might be able to compare it to the one you used to have 12 years ago, but you can't truly compare it to others on the market now.

It may simply be that the GE Spacemaker is more popular - after all, it's less ridiculously-priced than the other 18" options (why, oh why, is smaller always more expensive?) - and people who buy it like to feel, and say, that they've gotten a good deal. If you spend >$1000 for a fancy European dishwasher, on the other hand, it had better be perfect, or you'll feel justified going online and whining about it.

Nevertheless, the GE Spacemaker seems like a solid appliance from a good American (well, sort-of-American) brand. And it follows my grandfather's rule of "fewer controls, less to break". I'm sold.

Is it silly to put the cheapest dishwasher next to the most expensive fridge? Who cares? The next buyer can upgrade; I want what I want.